The Federal Transit Administration announced Thursday that the Hudson River Tunnel (HRT) project between New York and New Jersey is moving forward.
The project, part of the expansion of the Northeast Rail Corridor, received approval last week to enter the Engineering phase of the FTA Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, the agency said. Once the program begins, it is anticipated to create more than 72,000 jobs and improve the commute for workers in the region.
“Every day, 200,000 people pass through the North River Tunnel, and a closure affects not just the entire Northeast Corridor, but the entire country,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Today, we are proud to announce that the Hudson River Tunnel project is entering the Engineering phase, moving us a huge step closer to finally revitalizing and expanding this century-old piece of American infrastructure.”
The HRT project will build a new two-track rail tunnel from New Jersey to New York City’s Penn Station while rehabilitating the existing North River Tunnel, officials said. The project will also create nearly 5,000 new affordable housing units adjacent to Hudson Yards. The project will improve both New Jersey Transit and Amtrak service in the region at a cost of $17.18 billion. FTA’s portion of the project is estimated to be $6.88 billion.
“Hundreds of thousands of Americans travel under the Hudson River every day, not just between New York and New Jersey but between points all along the East Coast,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “FTA is proud to invest in the Hudson River Tunnel, through the CIG program, so these rails can continue to carry millions of people and billions of dollars that help define our country’s economy every year.”